There are 9 Essential 21st Century Skills that are critical to the learning process. After you have taken time to read through one or more of the external links about these Learning Skills (found on class wiki) write a reflection. Consider the impact these skills could have/do have on your teaching and on your students' experiences in the classroom. What issues were addressed in the article(s)? What is one thing you could do in your classroom, that is not being done yet, to help incorporate one of the 9 skills?
Your reflection needs to be at least 10-15 sentences long. Please include the title of each article you read and are referencing.
This reflection is due by the Saturday after our first weekend's class.
MY REFLECTION #1 I found the following video to be very true to today's classroom. 21st Century Assessment Within this video they talk about types of PBL's (performance based lessons) which enable teachers to measure success in a variety of different ways. One of the presenters in the video talked about how students today are very over tested with all the tests they are required to take in their 12 years of school and beyond. Tests usually have choices like life does; however, he also made a good point that life does not come in such an organized manner with those specific choices laid out. Life is figuring out what your choices are and then choosing the one that fits the goal in mind. With PBL's teachers are able to assess many different aspects of the students as well as fitting those projects to objectives and standards. I think that it is our job as teachers to give our students the skills to be successful in life. In the math department that I currently work in, I would like to affect change in how we are assessing students. Projects would be a great alternative, however, as a department and a district we are required to give the exact same assessments. I would need to get all of the teachers on board to try this in our classrooms. I know that it would be a struggle, but I know it would be a great benefit to students.
Reflection 2: Videos for the Classroom
After you have found a video to use in the classroom, post the link to the video on the "Reflection" page of your wiki. Then, write at least a 5 sentence reflection as to how you will use this video in the classroom and what impact you think it will have on your students' learning.
Please find a video that is new to you and your classroom.
In addition to sites such as YouTube and TeacherTube there is a free online educational video service available to Wisconsin residents on the state's online library, Badgerlink. It provides streaming and downloadable video programs for K-12 students and teachers. See links below:
Escalator Video I think that this is a great video to help my student understand the importance of problem solving. I believe that the students will think this is funny at first. I also think that they will know the solution to the dilemma these two people face in the video. I will ask students why I might be showing them this video. I am hoping to lead the discussion towards problem solving and finding solutions for you. I come across a lot of students who want the teacher's help on every problem and are frustrated when they are asked to try something. Multitudes of students have the mentality that if the answer is not apparent that they will not be able to figure it out or they do not want to spend the time to think out a solution. I think this video can remind students that taking the easy way out is not always going to get you what you want. Students need to realize that some tasks may be easier than others, but using the knowledge that they posses can get them closer and closer to the correct answer or end result.
Reflection 3: Types of Learner in the Classroom
Think about the types of learners found in your classroom. Are they active, sensing, visual, sequential, reflective, intuitive, verbal, global? Now consider the ways you have used technology in your lessons.
Create a t-chart like the one below and brainstorm what could be fixed and how you could use technology in a new way.
MY REFLECTION #3
What is not working with curriculum
Assessing if students know what they just learned
Absent students missing many days and not being able to get caught up
Answering questions on homework assignments before students get to class
Having checkpoints for groups so I know they are accomplishing the given tasks
Technology to experiment with
Crocodoc - to upload notes from class
Active Expression handhelds - to give mini quizzes on new material
Blogger - set-up so students can pose questions about the homework while they are working on it so I can reduce the time spent on answering homework questions
Ten Marks - looks like a great review place for struggling students
That Quiz - another way to assess student learning on the computer
Reflection 1: 21st Century Learning
There are 9 Essential 21st Century Skills that are critical to the learning process. After you have taken time to read through one or more of the external links about these Learning Skills (found on class wiki) write a reflection. Consider the impact these skills could have/do have on your teaching and on your students' experiences in the classroom. What issues were addressed in the article(s)? What is one thing you could do in your classroom, that is not being done yet, to help incorporate one of the 9 skills?
MY REFLECTION #1
I found the following video to be very true to today's classroom. 21st Century Assessment Within this video they talk about types of PBL's (performance based lessons) which enable teachers to measure success in a variety of different ways. One of the presenters in the video talked about how students today are very over tested with all the tests they are required to take in their 12 years of school and beyond. Tests usually have choices like life does; however, he also made a good point that life does not come in such an organized manner with those specific choices laid out. Life is figuring out what your choices are and then choosing the one that fits the goal in mind. With PBL's teachers are able to assess many different aspects of the students as well as fitting those projects to objectives and standards. I think that it is our job as teachers to give our students the skills to be successful in life. In the math department that I currently work in, I would like to affect change in how we are assessing students. Projects would be a great alternative, however, as a department and a district we are required to give the exact same assessments. I would need to get all of the teachers on board to try this in our classrooms. I know that it would be a struggle, but I know it would be a great benefit to students.
Reflection 2: Videos for the Classroom
http://www.ecb.org or http://www.badgerlink.net
MY REFLECTION #2
Escalator VideoI think that this is a great video to help my student understand the importance of problem solving. I believe that the students will think this is funny at first. I also think that they will know the solution to the dilemma these two people face in the video. I will ask students why I might be showing them this video. I am hoping to lead the discussion towards problem solving and finding solutions for you. I come across a lot of students who want the teacher's help on every problem and are frustrated when they are asked to try something. Multitudes of students have the mentality that if the answer is not apparent that they will not be able to figure it out or they do not want to spend the time to think out a solution. I think this video can remind students that taking the easy way out is not always going to get you what you want. Students need to realize that some tasks may be easier than others, but using the knowledge that they posses can get them closer and closer to the correct answer or end result.
Reflection 3: Types of Learner in the Classroom
MY REFLECTION #3
What is not working with curriculumTechnology to experiment with